Children's Home run by The Gateshead Group Ltd in Gloucestershire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731370 1 Registered provider: The Gateshead Group Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider. It offers care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this visit, no children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since June 2023.

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This monitoring visit

On 7 and 8 November 2023, a full inspection took place at this children’s home. Significant concerns were identified in relation to the care given to children and the ability of leaders, managers and staff to protect children and keep them safe. As a result, the home was judged as inadequate and Ofsted suspended the home’s registration on 9 November 2023 as a necessary and proportionate action to ensure that children were safeguarded and protected from harm.

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This monitoring visit

On 6 December 2023, a monitoring inspection found that insufficient action had been taken to address the serious and/or widespread failures that were identified at the full inspection. Leaders and managers continued to operate the home when the registration was suspended as, although one child had moved out, two children remained living there. As a result, a compliance notice was issued under regulation 13.

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This monitoring visit

Subsequently, the remaining children were supported to move out of the home. Leaders and managers have reflected on the concerns raised by Ofsted and have taken action to address some of the shortfalls that have been identified. The home’s development plan is being used to provide achievable targets for leaders, managers and staff, and a focus has been placed on improving the quality of care that will be provided to children in the future. Alongside this, systems to monitor the quality of Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731370 2 care have been implemented so that the registered manager can evaluate the impact of the care that is provided to children against their progress.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have identified the vulnerabilities in their admissions process. This has allowed them to adjust their approach when determining the suitability of children to move into the home. This now includes an assessment of whether staff are likely to be able to meet the needs of the child and keep them safe. Consideration will also be given to the home’s location assessment, as this will help the registered manager to determine whether external risk factors may be presented.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed their complaints procedure. Leaders and managers explained that they will now be more receptive to complaints and their responses will be reflective and helpful. The registered manager also outlined how he will use external complaints procedures should the support from external agencies be insufficient.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are attending regular supervision sessions and team meetings. These forums have been used to reflect on the concerns that were identified by Ofsted and how to improve the care that will be provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff say that improvements have been made since the last monitoring inspection. They explained that learning has been identified and training opportunities have been provided to help them to understand how to care for children and keep them safe. However, although the breadth of training that is offered has been expanded and training compliance is high, there remain some gaps in staff’s understanding of how they will apply their knowledge to their day-to-day practice.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed children’s records to ensure that they help staff to identify the needs of children and how to support them. However, some care records do not allow for all important information to be included.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have not robustly reviewed their recruitment checks of existing members of staff. As a result, safer recruitment checks are not always evidenced, and leaders and managers are not able to determine the suitability of all staff members to work with children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have complied with the suspension notice and taken action to meet the compliance notice. As a result, no further enforcement action is required. The requirements and recommendations that were raised at the full inspection have been restated, as the improvements that leaders and managers have made have not yet been assessed in practice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731370 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/11/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731370 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; and

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff have a clear understanding of the risks to children and their 24 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731370 5 responsibility to take effective action to help children to keep safe.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to 24 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731370 6 the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(x)(xi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff are supported to develop positive and trusting relationships with children. Specifically, staff should be supported to provide advice and guidance to children that helps them to develop healthy relationships, make safe choices, and practise positive conflict resolution.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; and

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iv)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff understand children’s individual care needs and can support children effectively to promote their welfare and fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In additional, the registered person should ensure that children are helped to maintain their bedrooms to a good 24 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731370 7 standard of cleanliness. Moreover, the registered person should ensure that the home maintains a domestic rather than institutional impression. Specifically, this relates to the practice of continual CCTV monitoring.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff provide children with healthy routines and nurturing boundaries. Specifically, staff should help children to develop healthy sleep patterns and eat balanced and nutritious meals.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 24 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or 24 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731370 8 a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to use de-escalation strategies that help children to express themselves safely. By doing this, staff should be sure that restraint is only used when necessary and as a last resort.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(g)(ii)(h)) 24 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731370 9 In particular, the registered person should ensure that they have the skills to operate the home in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose and Children’s Homes Regulations (2015). Moreover, leaders and managers should ensure that they strengthen their knowledge and skills to enable them to complete robust safer recruitment checks to determine the suitability of staff to work with children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should also ensure that they use admissions information to accurately assess whether children can be kept safe in the home. In addition, before children move to the home, they should be supported to understand what it might be like for them to live there.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, the registered manager should ensure that children’s plans help staff to understand how to support children, and use continual reflection to make improvements to the quality of care being provided. Moreover, the registered person should ensure that staff have the skills, experience and training to support children effectively.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person should ensure that they respond to complaints to resolve issues and prevent reoccurrence.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when children are not in full-time education, they are supported to engage in suitable structured activities that promote their development and learning. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should ensure that staff support children to understand how to protect themselves, feel protected and be protected from significant harm. In particular, the registered person should ensure that when children raise concerns about the actions of others, they are provided with a suitable overview of the actions and outcomes that have been taken. As a result, children should be assured by the actions taken and feel protected as a result. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731370 10

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731370 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Gateshead Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 59 Wainwright Avenue, Hamilton, Leicester LE5 1QW

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Inspector

Martin Brown, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2731370 12 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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